Car-coupling



(NqMo deL) W. E. THOMPSON.

Gar Coupling.

No. 241,894; Patented May 24,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. THOMPSON, OF PINOKNEY, MICHIGAN.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,894, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed March 8, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. THOMP- SON, of Iinckney, in the county of Livingston and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvementin Railroad-Gar Oouplin gs, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of coupling devices for seeurin g railway-cars together.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and operation of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, my invention is shown in a central longitudinal section.

A represents a flaring-mouthed draw-bar and butter-head, and B ahollow section of the draw-bar proper. O'is a rod surrounded bya. coil-spring, D, and provided with a head, E, the front face of which is beveled, as shown. The springD finds one point of resistance ata, while the other is against the rear side of the head. The draw-baris provided with three chambers, 11,0, and d, the former being the largest, to allow of a horizontal motion of the head. The chamber 0 is smaller, but of sufficient size to allow of the free action of the spring, while the chamber (1 is the smallest, being only large enough to allow the'rod O to have a free reciprocating movement. The three chambers in the draw-bar are formed by the draw-bar proper, B, and the filling-sections 0 and f, which have chambers of different diameters. The sections 0 and f also serve to confine the guide-plate a in its proper position for receiving the end pressure of the spring D. The face of the headis beveled to the rear from top to bottom, and adapted to hold the link F in a horizontal position when inserted and held in place by the pin Gr.

(N0 model.)

In practice one end of the link is inserted, which crowds the head back, overcoming the resistance of the spring, until the pin-hole in the head is disclosed. This allows the pin, which has been sustained upon the head, to drop and pass through the end of the link. The resistance or pressure of the spring forces the bend of the link against the pin at the lower end of the beveled face of the head, the upper end of said bevel overhanging the top of the link, and holding the same in a hori zontal position ready to enter a similar head and draw-bar on an adjoining car with which it is desired to couple. Thelink entering such head forces back a similar rod with its head, which is forced backward until the pin will drop and engage with the opposite end of the link, when the coupling is completed without the necessity of any one going between the cars to guide the link, as in couplings of ordinary construction.

WVhat I claim as my invention is l. A draw-bar, 13, having an opening of the same size throughout for receiving two separate hollow sections, 0 f, forming three chambers, b c d, of different sizes, adapted toreceive the rod O, spring 1), and head E, in combination'with the hollow sections 0 f, rod 0, spring D, and head E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with the head E, spring D, rod G, and draw-bar B, provided with sections e f, as described, the guide-plate a, secured in the dran bar by said sections of, and forming a stop for the end of the spring D, and limiting the outward movement of the rod 0 and head E, substantially-as and for the p urpose specified.

' IVM. E. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

F. A. SIGLER', GEo. H. STooKnR. 

